Super Eagles back on track for second round qualification

The Super Eagles of Nigeria got their campaign for a fourth title back on track on Thursday with a 1-0 defeat of the hosts, the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire.

In their Group A match day 2 game at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium at Ebimpe near Abidjan, they held firm with a stoic display.

Their performance helped them move up the standings to second from third in the group, and they now look good for second round qualification.

Supreme News reports that match captain William Troost-Ekong scored the game’s lone goal in the 55th minute.

That was when he calmly scored from the penalty kick spot after a foul on Victor Osimhen by Ousmane Diomande.

Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal had awarded the penalty kick after checking from the pitchside monitor, following the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Supreme News reports that Nigeria will now need to advance to the second round with just a draw from their final group stage match on Monday when they face Guinea-Bissau.

Current Group A Standings

Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

Equatorial Guinea 2 1 1 0 5 3 +2 4

Nigeria 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4

Côte d’Ivoire 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3

Guinea Bissau 2 0 0 2 2 6 -4 0